50kg bag of rice to sell for N12,000

Rice farmers in the country have pledged to crash price of the commodity so that 50kg bag processed rice will sell between N12,000 to N13,000 in the coming days. This follows the decision of the rice farmers to slash the price of paddy rice from N150,000 to N110,000 per tonne, as the rain-fed harvest begins.

The decision was announced yesterday in Abuja, when officials of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and Rice Miller Association of Nigeria met with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh in his office.

The association said price of 50kg bag will further crash to N6000 in few months after the expected bumper harvest.

Chairman of the rice miller association, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, who announced the decision, said it has become necessary as the high price of local rice was worrisome not only to consumers but also farmers and millers.

Alhaji Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of Umza Rice, Kano, said the major problem confronting both farmers and millers was smuggling activities along the land borders.

Ogbeh thanked the two associations for the brave decision, adding that this was the greatest news that will bring relief to Nigerians.

The minister announced that government will hold Farmers Day on the 19th of October at the Eagle Square, Abuja.